Dealing With a Property
After a Death in Scotland
When someone dies, dealing with a property can feel like one more thing you are expected to handle when you are already carrying enough.
If you are an executor, family member, spouse, partner or someone helping from close by or further away, this page is here to help you understand the practical side of what usually needs thought next.
This is guidance only. It is not legal advice, and it is not a push to sell. Every family situation is different. Every property situation is different. There is no judgment here, no pressure, and no single right answer.
The first practical things to check
Before you think about selling, clearing or making longer-term decisions, these are usually the first practical points to look at. You do not need to solve everything today — usually, the best first step is to make sure the property is safe, the key information is being gathered, and nothing important is being missed.
- Is the property secure?
- Has the insurer been told?
- Is the property occupied or empty?
- Is someone checking post and access?
- Are utilities, keys and alarms being managed?
- Do you know who is formally dealing with the estate?
- Have you spoken to the solicitor, if there is one?
This page is for you if...
This page is for people in Scotland who are dealing with a death where a property is involved.
You do not need to have all the answers before you start. You do not need to know the legal process in detail. And you do not need to feel rushed into a property decision while everything still feels raw.
Why this often feels harder than people expect
When a property is involved after a death, it is rarely just about bricks and mortar. It can involve grief, family dynamics, legal responsibility, timelines, insurance, bills, possessions, paperwork and the fear of getting something wrong.
Many people are left trying to make sensible decisions at a time when they are tired, emotional and already dealing with enough.
That is one of the reasons I wanted this page on the site. I have bought, sold and managed property across Scotland, and I have seen how often people are left without calm, practical guidance when emotion and property come together. This page is here to help with that.
What usually needs thought when a property is involved
The biggest mistake people make is feeling they must decide everything immediately. Usually, the better approach is to get clear on the position, understand the options, and take the next sensible step.
You may be the executor, one of several family members, or someone trying to help from the side without formal authority. Understanding this first shapes everything else.
That might include securing the property, checking insurance, dealing with post, utilities or access.
An empty property often brings different practical issues to think through, including insurance requirements and security.
That can affect who is responsible and how decisions get made. If there is no will, legal advice is usually needed early.
Sometimes the main difficulty is not the property itself, but getting agreement on what should happen next.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The right option depends on the people involved, the legal position, the condition of the property, and what feels manageable.
In many cases, yes — particularly where there is no will, there is family disagreement, or the title position is unclear.
The main options when a property is involved
There is no right or wrong answer here. Each situation is different. These are the most common routes families consider.
How to spot pressure when people start talking about the house. Good support should lower pressure, not increase it. If anyone — estate agent, developer, family member or otherwise — is pushing you towards a quick decision before you feel ready, that is usually a sign to slow down, not speed up.
When to get legal or professional advice
This page is general guidance only. If you are dealing with a death and a property in Scotland, it is often sensible to get proper advice, especially where:
A calm property conversation can still be useful at that stage, but it should sit alongside the right legal advice where needed.
What I can offer
I am a property developer who has bought and managed property across Scotland for over 24 years. If it would be helpful, here is what I can offer in these situations.
If a sale becomes the right route, there are different ways I may be able to help depending on the situation. But this page is not built around that. It is built around helping you get clearer on the position first.
I created this page because people dealing with a death are often left trying to handle a property decision at the same time. Too often, the help they receive is really a sales pitch. This page is here to offer something more useful than that.
A non-judgmental approach matters here
People end up dealing with property after a death in all sorts of circumstances. Close families. Distant families. Complicated families. Unexpected deaths. Long illnesses. Empty homes. Homes full of belongings. Disagreement. Delay. Guilt. Relief. Exhaustion.
There is no perfect version of how this is supposed to feel. There is also no judgment here. Everyone has a story.
The aim is simply to help you understand the property side more clearly and make the next decision from a better place.
Practical templates you can use or adapt
These are ready-to-use letter templates for the practical notifications that often need to go out early. Copy, adapt and send — you do not need permission to use them.
Subject: Estate of [Full Name] – Property at [Address]
I am writing in relation to the property at [Address].
[Full Name] died on [Date of Death]. I am [the executor / acting on behalf of the executor / a family representative].
The property is currently [occupied / empty]. It is being checked regularly and has been secured.
Please confirm whether the policy remains in place, whether any conditions now apply because of the death or because the property is empty, whether there are any requirements regarding heating, water systems, inspections or security, and whether you need any documents from me at this stage.
Subject: Council Tax – Property at [Address] – Death Notification
I am writing to notify you that [Full Name] died on [Date of Death].
The property at [Address] is currently [empty / occupied], and I am [the executor / acting on behalf of the executor / helping the family].
Please confirm the current council tax position for the property, whether any exemption or discount may apply because the property forms part of a deceased person's estate, what information or documents you need from me, and where future correspondence should be sent.
Subject: Account Update Request – [Property Address]
I am contacting you about the electricity supply for [Address].
[Full Name] died on [Date of Death]. I am [the executor / acting on behalf of the executor / helping the family].
Please confirm whether you are the current electricity supplier for this property, the account number, the name currently on the account, what you need from me to update your records, and whether there are any immediate steps I should take if the property is empty.
Things you may need to have to hand
- Is there a will?
- Who is the executor?
- Is a solicitor involved?
- Has confirmation been applied for?
- Who is the main family contact?
- Full address and postcode
- House or flat
- Occupied or empty?
- Who has keys?
- Alarm code and spare key location
- Electricity and gas supplier
- Water and wastewater
- Broadband and landline provider
- TV licence
- Latest meter readings
- Boiler make and model
- Stopcock and fuse board location
- Smoke, heat and CO alarms
- Any damp, leak or frost risk
- Heating left on or off
Questions I am often asked
Not always. In many situations, the first step is simply to secure the property, understand who is responsible for the estate, and avoid rushing into a decision before the position is clear. There is rarely a reason to hurry a major property decision while everything still feels raw.
That depends on the legal position, the title, the estate and who has authority to act. In Scotland, this often needs to be checked carefully, so legal advice may be appropriate before any sale decision is made.
That can make things more complicated. It may affect who is entitled to deal with the estate and who inherits. If there is no will, it is sensible to get legal advice early before making any property decisions.
An empty property can bring extra issues such as security, insurance, utilities, post and general upkeep. Even if no big decision is made yet, those practical points should usually be looked at fairly quickly.
Where would it help to start?
Your details are kept strictly private and will not be passed on to anyone.
Not ready to talk yet?
That is completely fine. You can download the guide and come back to this when you are ready.
A practical, no-pressure guide covering the first steps, the main options, and how to get the right support at the right time. Take it away and read it when you are ready.
Download the guideIf you want a calm conversation about the practical side
If you are dealing with a death and there is a property involved in Scotland, you are welcome to get in touch. No hard sell. No pressure. No assumption that the answer is to sell. Just a straightforward conversation to help you understand the position and what may make sense next.
Guidance first. No pressure. Scotland only.
